ANOTHER MANATEE FOUND DEAD

The 16th dead manatee found this year in Martin County's waters was picked up Sunday, state biologists said.

The nearly 10-foot-long male sea cow was discovered near Horseshoe Point and driven overnight to the state pathology laboratory in St. Petersburg to determine a cause of death, said Wendy Godwin, a manatee biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Preliminary results of the analysis suggest the animal died of natural causes, unlike the five killed by boats, five found dead as babies and five others who died of undetermined causes so far this year, she said.

There have been more manatee deaths in Martin County this year any other year. State records date back to 1975. There have been four dead manatees reported in Indian River County and five dead manatees in St. Lucie County, according to state reports.

When the temperatures start to drop, more sea cows will be swimming in local waterways as they travel south to warmer environments near power plants, Godwin said.

"The chance of having problems will increase during the winter," she said.

Residents should not put out fresh water for manatees because the animals become used to human interaction and can put themselves in harm's way by being near boats, she added. To report an injured or dead manatee, call the state's toll-free hotline at 888-404-3922.